Consumer prices in January

February 22, 2000

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.2 percent in January, the same as in each of the preceding three months. For the 12-month period ended in January, the unadjusted CPI-U increased 2.7 percent.

The food index declined 0.1 percent in January after registering small increases throughout most of 1999. The energy index continued to advance, up 1.0 percent in January. The index for petroleum-based energy increased 1.9 percent and the index for energy services rose 0.1 percent.

Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent in January, following an increase of 0.1 percent in December. The January advance reflects larger increases in shelter costs and educational books, coupled with an upturn in the price of cigarettes.